Gulf, Saudi sector affected as Lufthansa cancels 1,700 flights because of strike

Several flights between the Kingdom and Germany to be operated today have been canceled after a massive strike hit Lufthansa. Germany's largest airline said it was cancelling almost 1700 flights today, mostly on domestic and short-haul European routes, as well as on the Gulf-Germany sector, as a result of planned strike action by thousands of workers calling for higher pay.
“Two Lufthansa planes that landed at the Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz Airport yesterday have been parked, while another Lufthansa plane will remain in hangar at the Riyadh airport as its flights will not operate today, said Stephen Loecherbach, Lufthansa regional manager, yesterday. He pointed out that all four Lufthansa flights scheduled for today have been canceled.
Stephen said Lufthansa’s offices in Saudi Arabia informed all its passengers beforehand about the cancellation. The airline also made alternative arrangements for passengers, such as booking them on other airlines, he added.
It was not immediately known whether the flights of Saudi Arabian Airlines or other Gulf carriers operating to various German destinations would also be affected.
Abdullah Al-Azhar, Saudia spokesman, did not return a call to answer Arab News queries.
Lufthansa currently operates 12 flights a week from Jeddah, 12 flights per week from Riyadh and four flights from Dammam.
The union of Lufthansa staff said the offer put forward by Lufthansa on Wednesday was “scandalous.” Lufthansa has estimated the strike will cost it tens of millions of euros and has described the labor action “absurd” and “out of proportion”, given the early stage of negotiations. Industry sources contacted by Arab News yesterday feared that the strike might disrupt flights even after today.